Thread: Off the wall question--Jewelry

I've bought quite a bit of jewelery over the years, having been married once, and being nearly ready to get engaged for round #2.

You should ABSOLUTELY give your jeweler a token of appreciation, but you don't tip them the same way you might tip a valet.

Jewelers don't pay their rent by selling you "an item" as you put it.

They make their bread an butter through return sales, and referrals.

So, if you really appreciate the service from your jeweler, do a couple of things.

1. Tell them how pleased you are. If the guy is crafting a custom item, he'd appreciate hearing how pleased you are with it, just as some the resto gurus around hear like to see how much people respect their work, and just like I love to get possitive feedback and thank-you cards after photographing a wedding.
2. Take several of his business cards. Whenever you talk to somebody about jewelery, especially if they are looking for a jeweler, pass along one of his cards, and give the guy a good recommendation.
3. As the years go buy, and you find yourself looking for anniversary, birthday, and christmas presents, go back to him. And when you go, remind him who you are. He'll be proud to have made a loyal customer, and you may get a better deal for being one. Everybody wins.

I'm with VeeDubb on this one. I'd say a good tip would be, depending on the type of person you're dealing with, a box of high end chocolate, a handwritten thank you card, a bottle of liquor (wine, etc).

Thanks, guys. I'm already spending my last dollar and wanted to make sure there wasn't some piece of etiquette I was missing. The referrals, though, those won't be a problem